we interrupt the previously scheduled qualifying update...

...to give you this story from my tax prof this morning:

So, we're studying about deductions for casualty losses. And there was a taxpayer who was raking and burning leaves when he found a live trap for a mouse, with a mouse in it. He was so startled he dropped the trap into the pile of burning leaves, which melted the trap and set the mouse free--but the mouse wasn't dead, just mildly flaming. So the little fiery mouse ran back into the man's house, catching the house on fire and burning it down.

And all I could think about were the peasants from the Trogdor game, and how it's not entirely clear whether they would get a casualty loss deduction for their thatched-roof cottage, because was the presence of Trogdor really all that sudden, unexpected and unusual? I mean, Trogdor lives around there, doesn't he? Wouldn't they be on their guard?

*throws metal sign and shrieks, "AND THE TROGDOR COMES IN THE NIIIIIIIIGHT!"*

(oh, and the flaming mouse dude couldn't take his deduction, because burning leaves was illegal at that time of year. heh.)

Now back to qualifying, already in progress...